Business booming for Alberta’s small brewers

According to numbers released by the province on Jan. 18, the Alberta Small Brewers Development Program is helping craft beer makers thrive in Alberta.
“Brewing in Alberta is thriving, with more breweries and distilleries opening their doors or growing their businesses,” said Premier Rachel Notley.
“We’re working with entrepreneurs to create jobs,” she said, ”
The comments came as the premier toured the Minhas Micro Brewery in Calgary Jan. 18.
Since the launch of the Alberta Small Brewers Development Program in 2016, more than 700 new jobs have been created in the provinces small brewing sector with 513 new beer products been produced in Alberta.
During the first year of the program, small brewers in the province grew from 45 to 60 marking the single largest year to year increase to date in the province.
Through the development program, small brewers are eligible for grant funding to support investment in their businesses.
The program is intended to help brewers increase production, launch new products, expand into new markets and make capital investments in their breweries.
In addition to the program, the province also reduced the markup being paid by small liquor manufacturers this past December.
The markup was cut from $13.67 per litre to $2.46 per litre for manufacturers who sell from the production facility.
Both of these programs are aimed at supporting the re-investment in small liquor manufacturers and the creation of new jobs in the industry.